the last shop
 
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Artist Profiles
 


 

RACHEL STEPHENSON
NGAI TAHU, TAINUI, TE ARAWA. b 1974
From 2005 to late 2007 Rachel built and ran the Last shop gallery and the KOPUTAI Project Space in Port Chalmers, Dunedin to exhibit and sell her own and others work, and to host Artist in Residency projects. Rachel curated all exhibitions during this time which can be seen on the archive page of this website.


Rachel has recently moved to Waiheke Island to focus on production of her NOCTURNE ceramic lighting and sculpture. (See the gallery page for examples.)

 
The Seven Deadly Sins 2008
Seven ceramic apples and pomegranates with copper branches and leaves.

This work was exhibited as part of the Natural Selection III Ceramic Invitational Exhibition, Waiheke Island. This work was developed from Maara installation of 2004 (details below) which was also exhibited in Natural Selection III.


 

 

 


'Mapping Otakou' 2007-2008.
KOPUTAI Project Space.
Installation of clay and paint with photographic documentation.
This installation traced the harbour and landscape of Otakou- Otago onto the walls and floor of the gallery with local clay. Visitors were invited to add their knowledge of the area, names, stories and histories to this map. Open to the public for three months the photographic record shows a profile of the local community. The engulfing scale was reminder of our immediate environment, and the relationships of humans to the land and water ways. Prints will be shown and sold in the COCA Preview 2008 Exhibition, Temple Gallery Dunedin 1st August and at COCA Gallery Christchurch 2nd September. Prints may also be ordered through this website.


By following in the steps of our forefathers 2007-2008
This embroidered DCC polling booth began as part of Mapping Otakou 2007 and shows the Dunedin City Coat of Arms, it's title is the translation of the motto 'Maorium Institutis Utendo' from latin. When completed it will be exhibited alongside images from the Mapping Otakou work and shown in the COCA Preview 2008 Exhibition at the Temple Gallery, Dunedin and COCA Gallery, Christchurch.


 

Maara 'Cultural Bodies, Uncovering Other Histories' (2004) Otago Polytechnic School of Art and KOPUTAI Project Space
This installation explores cultural knowledge through mythologies, migration, and cultivation of foods. The ground is made of peat and variously sized and glazed ceramic kumara are buried in mounds and harvested in groups. An apple tree with both apples and pomegranates stands in the garden.
Sound (recorded and played courtesy of Te Reo Irirangi O Aotearoa - Radio New Zealand National Programme) is buried in the ground of peat, and rises from the whenua bringing history, celebration and debate essential to contemplations of identity.
Maara has been included in the Pacific Histories Conference Exhibition, hosted by Otago University December 2006 and the Natural Selection III Ceramics Invitational Exhibition 2008, Waiheke Island.


Onward 2006
KOPUTAI Project Space, Waitangi Day 2006
Acrylic on Canvas
This painting was exhibited in the window for Waitangi Day



The following artists were represented by the Last shop. If you would like further information on these artists please use the contact page of this website.
Veronica Keucke, Robert Scott, Rachel Taylor, Lilian Spender, Kim F Pieters, Madeline Childs and Philip Jarvis, James Robinson, Katrina Thomson, Sebastian Vargas, Jo Soster.